UUMA Staff near New Mums and Their Infants
Unicaf University Malawi (UUMA) Campus staff, headed by the University’s Rector Professor Kuthemba Mwale, visited new mothers and their infants at the Bwaila District Hospital’s Maternity Unit in Lilongwe, at the beginning of March 2017, bearing special gifts. For this UUMA action of corporate social responsibility, 60 packages were delivered to an equal number of new mums recovering from labour at the hospital. Each of the packages contained a packet of sugar, a Chitenji cloth, a bar of bath soap, 2 bars of washing soap and two cloth nappies.
The packages handed out were very useful; bath soaps are scarce and new mums may go for days without a bath. Reusable cloth nappies, and soap to wash them in, are also very welcome presents. The Chitenji cloth is 2 meters long and can be used to cover the baby or to carry it on the mother’s back. The sugar can be added to the porridge new mothers are served every morning, while in hospital.
Sister Elistiner Kayange, in charge of the ward the UUMA team visited, said: “While we can give our patients medical assistance, there are other, important things, which we cannot give them, and you have fulfilled that…. All we can say is thank you very much and may God bless you all…. We hope to have more visits from you in the future.”
Unicaf University Malawi Campus Rector, Professor Kuthemba Mwale stated: “Unicaf University is here to stay. It is a citizen of Lilongwe, a Citizen of Malawi. Whatever other citizens of Malawi experience we share; when they are in hospital and sick we are with them. When they are in the maternity wards giving birth to the new generation, we are with them. As conscientious citizens, we try to support them in whatever they are going through. Young mothers and their infants are our present and future students, so we have to care about them; they will be a part of us when they become Unicaf University students. We have to attend to their needs, help them from the start, make them realise that in Unicaf University they have a family, which cares about them and can prepare them for a bright future….. Unicaf University is not only interested in them as individuals, but also as representatives of the body of Malawi citizens, who will help the whole country to grow, develop and become self-sustaining….. We wanted to show that, in Unicaf University, all Malawi citizens have a family; that this new university has the welfare of the people at heart.”
Although some of the new mothers were in discomfort, as they were recovering from C-section operations, they expressed real joy when they were handed the UUMA gift package. Mrs Banda, one of the recipients, said that the items in the package would help her and her baby a lot, and sent blessings to everyone at Unicaf University.
